Trump and Putin meet for first time at G20 summit in Hamburg

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have had their first official meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Hamburg.

Much of the talk in the lead-up to the meeting of the 20 most influential leaders in Germany had centred on the meeting between Trump and Putin, following allegations of interference from the Kremlin in last year’s US presidential election.

The two-day summit began on Friday amid protests across the German city with key issues to be discussed including climate change and trade.

Trump and Putin spoke briefly in public before making their way to a scheduled private meeting. Both men talked of increasing cooperation on common issues.

The two-day summit began on Friday amid protests across the German city

Trump told reporters: "We've had some very, very good talks. We’re going to have a talk now and obviously that will continue. We look forward to a lot of very positive things happening for Russia and for the United States and for everyone concerned."

Putin added: "If you want to have a positive outcome in bilaterals and be able to resolve most international policy issues, that will really need personal meetings. I’m delighted to be able to meet you personally, Mr President."

Another key figure in this weekend’s event is German chancellor and host Angela Merkel, who had been critical of Trump’s isolationist policies, and said in her opening statement that compromise was the key.

"We know that time is short and therefore solutions very often can only be found if we are ready to compromise and work together without bending over backwards too much because, of course, we can express different views on some issues," Merkel said.